Our reporter/ The Lagos State government on Thursday arraigned Chrisland School Limited, and some of its staff members over the death of a 12-year-old student, Whitney Omodesola Adeniran, who died during the school’s inter-house sport on the 9th of February, 2023.
They were all arraigned before Justice Oyindamola Ogala of the Lagos High Court, Ikeja on a two-count charge of involuntary manslaughter, and acting in a reckless and negligent manner that endangered her life.
The affected staff are the principal, Mrs Belinda Amao, the Vice Principal, Nwatu Victoria, and a teacher in the school, Kuku Fatai. The other defendant is a vendor at the Agege Stadium, Ademoye Adewale.
The Attorney General & Commissioner of Justice, Lagos, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Moyosore Onigbanjo, who led the prosecution on behalf of the State Government told the court that the state had filed two count counts against the defendants. He asked the court to allow them to take their plea.
When the counts were read to the defendants, they all pleaded not guilty. The school principal, Mrs Belinda Amao, wept loudly while in the dock.
The Attorney General also informed the court that the state had lined up seventeen witnesses to testify against the defendant. He asked the court for a date to enable the prosecution open trial.
The defence team on its part informed the court that they had pending applications seeking the bail of all the defendants. The lawyers subsequently took turns moving their bail applications.
The Attorney General had no objections to the applications. He, however, urged the court not to grant bail on self recognizance and to ensure to grant conditions that would guarantee that the defendants show up for their trial.
The court subsequently took a short break to write its ruling on bail.
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